Automatic train-pipe coupling.



F. H. FOSTER.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE `COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED Aman. 1915. v

Patented Allg. 31,: 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

NNI N .IN I .A u w W, .,1 A w, W. N I .I I @my NQ NTN I Attorneys F. H. FOSTER.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION man APR. so, 1915.

1,151,939. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

s N N QQ Il l @meme/v hl/WQ l Attorneys BIA PLANOOFMPH C0..wASH\NaToN D c FRED I-I. FOSTER, OF OXFORD, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Speccation of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Application filed April 30, 1915. Serial No. 24,976

T 0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, FRED HEATH FOSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oxford, in the county of Benton and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Automatic Train-Pipe Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to train pipe couplings, and aims to provide novel and improved means for automatically coupling the train pipe sections of two carsV together, when the cars are coupled, and whereby when the cars are uncoupled, the train pipe sections of the two cars will be automatically uncoupled and closed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automatic train pipe coupler embodying two coupling members adapted to be carried by the respective train pipe sections of the two cars, and said coupling members having novel means for engaging one another to bring the train pipe sections into communication, and whereby the coupling members are properly directed into engagement with one another when the cars are coupled together.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide an automatic train pipecoupling which is comparatively simple, compact, non-incumbering and inexpensive in 'construction, which may be readily manufactured and installed, and which will be thoroughly eflicient and practical in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan View illustrating the coupling and valve device, portions of the pipe sections being broken away. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the coupling. Fig. 3 is an end view of one coupling member. Fig. 1 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the valve device.

In carrying out the invention, a train pipe coupling 1 is provided between the adjacent ends of each pair of cars, and each car is provided with a valve device 2 coperable with the respective couplings. In thek drawings, a single coupling and valve 'device only are shown,but it will be noted ythat all of the cars of a train would in practice be equipped with the couplings and valve de`V vices.

The couplingk 1 comprises two companion members or sections 3, which are of wedgeshape, and the butt or larger ends of which are threaded or otherwise engaged to the adjacent ends of the respective train pipe [sections 4. The train pipe sections l are carried slidably by the respective cars in any suitable manner, whereby they may slide The longitudinally to a limited extent. coupling members 3 are provided with the cooperating diagonal or oblique faces 5, and the smaller ends of the coupling members are provided with beveled or oblique noses 6.

An apertured gasket 7 of rubber or equiv! aient material is embedded within the face portion of each coupling member, and each coupling member is provided with a bore' 8 extending from the respective pipe section 4l to the aperture of the corresponding gasket 7. The gaskets 7 are arranged obliquely and'project slightly from the faces of the coupling members, whereby when z the coupling members are brought together, the gaskets will contact tightly with one another to bring the bores 8 into communication, and to prevent the escape of air.

Each of the coupling members 3 is provided with means for directing the other coupling member into proper position, when the coupling members are moved together, andto this end, a U-shaped guide member 9 straddles each coupling member 3 adjacent the butt end of the coupling member, and has its ends pivoted, as at 10, tol the upper and lower surfaces of the coupling member. rThe guide members 9 are preferably constructed of sheet metal, and those edges of the members 9 remote from the butt ends of the corresponding coupling members, are provided with flared deflecting flanges 11 extending completely between the ends of the members 9. Coiled wire retractile springs 12 are connected to the limbs of the membersl 9, and to bolts or equivalent elements 13 engaged to the upper 'and lower surfaces of the coupling membersv 3, the bolts 13 also acting as stops to limitV the movement of the members 9 under the iniuence of the springs l2. When the coupling members are separated, the springs 12 will swing the members 9 against the bolts or stops 13, and the guide members 9 will thus be held in proper position for receiving the opposite coupling members. The members 9 extend around the faces 5 of the corresponding coupling members, and are adapted to receive the smaller ends of the opposite coupling members when the coupling members are moved together'.

Supposing the coupling members 3 to be separated, when they are moved together, the smaller ends or noses of the members 3 will enter the guide members 9 of the opposite coupling members, and should the coupling members 3 be slightly out of alinement, the iianges 11 will direct the coupling Y members into proper position relative to one another, ift being noted that the members 9 are yiel-dable whereby they may swing toward the butt ends off the corresponding coupling members. lVhen the coupling members 3. are forced home relative to one another, they will be moved tightly between the opposite coupling members and guide members 91, and the coupling members are thus tightly forced together, to bring the gaskets 7 into pro-per contact, so as to connect the respective train pipe sections 4. The springs 12 being brought under tension by the movement of the members 9 toward the butt ends of the coupling members 3, will` cause the members 9 to swing toward one another for moving the coupling members 3 together. lVh'en the cars are uncoupled, the pipe sections 4 are normally projected slightly, whereby when the coupling members 3 are brought together, the pipe sections 4 will be forced backwardly toward the centers of the respective cars, -for opening the passages through the said train pipe sections, as will presently appear.

The passages through the train pipe sections 4 of each car are controlled by means of the valve device 2. This valve device 2 embodies a cylinder 14, comprising two sections 15, each of which has an open end and an annular ou-tturned flange 16 around its open end. The flanges 16 of the two sections 15- are secured together by means of bolts or other suitable securing elements 17, and rings 18 are fitted snugly within the open end or adjacent portions of the sections 15, and are provided with outturned annular ianges 19-clarnped between thel flanges 16. TheA lrings 18 and their flanges 19 provide means for packingl the adjacent ends of the VSections 15, to prevent leakage. The other or vremote ends'of the sections 15 are pro- 60..y

vided with restricted apertures 20 through which the respective pipe Sections 4 are slidable sui-table packing means 2Oa being ycarried by thel remotevv ends of the sections 15, Land they embrace the pipe sections 4 to prevent leakage.

A disk 21 is threaded upon that end of each pipe section 4 which projects within the cylinder 14, and the disks 21 provide valves for closing the passages between the pipe sections 4 and cylinder 14 when the pipe sections 4 are projected or separated. rihe disks 21 are of slightly smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the cylinder 14, and the pipe sections 4 are provided with lateral apertures 22 adjacent the disks 21. rIhe disks 21 are threaded upon the ends of the pipe sections and close said ends of the pipe sections.

A coiled expansion spring 23 is disposed between the cylinder 14 and its ends bear against the disks 21, so as to tend to separate the disks and pipe sections, the intermediate portion of the spring 23 being properly supported and guided by the rings 18.

The remote ends of the cylinder sections 15 are provided with counter bores 24 at the inner ends of the apertures 20, and the sections 15 are provided with tapered or restricted portions 25 between the counter bores 24 and the main bore of the cylinder. The disks 21 are seatable snugly within the portions 25 and against the shoulders between the counter bores 24 and the portions 25, the peripheries of the disks 21 being preferably beveled and adapted to fit snugly within the tapered portions when the disks or valves 21 are seated. Coiled wire expansion springs 2G of less tension than the spring 23, are disposed upon the pipe sections 4 between the disks 21 and the bottom walls oi: the counter bores 24, and

rhave a slight tendency to move the disks 21 inward, but the tension of the spring 23 being greater than the aggregate tension of the two springs 24, will hold the disks 21 seated when the pipe sections 4 are released. The air pipe 27 leading to the air brake is connected to the cylinder 14 in any suitable manner.

In operation, when the car embodying the valve device 2 is uncoupled from the other cars, the pipe sections 4 will be released, and the spring 23 will therefore seat the disks or valves 21 and this will close the passages through the pipe sections 4, since the disks 21 being seated within the tapered portions 25, will prevent the passage of air between the pipe sections 4 and cylinder 14. TVV hen one pipe section 4 is coupled to the pipe section of another car, it will be forced inwardly against the tension of the spring 23, as illustrated at the left hand side of Fig..4, and the corresponding disk 21 will be unseated, to establish communication between the said pipe section and cylinder 14, whereby the air brake pipe 27 and the respective train pipe section 4 are brought into communication. It is evident that when the said disk 21 is unseated, communication is established between the respective pipe section 4 and the interior 'of the cylinder 14, through the corresponding apertures 22 and the annular space between the disk 21 and the walls of the cylinder 14. When both pipe sections 4 are moved inwardly, the pipe sections will be brought into communication, as is evident, and will also be brought into communication with the pipe 27.

The present apparatus operates entirely automatically, thus eliminating the necessity of the brakeman manually coupling the train pipe sections together, as ordinarily done, and which consumes considerable time and trouble.

Each coupling member may be provided with a plurality of bores 8 and gaskets 7, whereby when the coupling members are coupled together, they may connect a corresponding number of pipe sections of the two cars, but since this is a mere duplication, it need not be described or illustrated in detail.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: Y

1. A pipe coupling comprising two wedgeshaped members adapted to be moved together and having oblique faces and bores extending to said faces to be brought into communication, and spring pressed U- shaped guide members straddling and pivoted to the coupling members for receiving the opposite coupling members and holding the coupling members tightly together.

2. Apipe coupling comprising two wedgeshaped members adapted to be moved together and having oblique faces and bores extending to said faces to be brought into communication, and spring pressed U- shaped guide members straddling and pivoted to the coupling members for receiving the opposite coupling members and holding the coupling members tightly together, the guide members having flared flanges for directing the opposite coupling members properly thereinto.

3. Apipe coupling comprising two wedgeshaped members adapted to be moved together and having oblique faces and bores eX- tending to said faces to be brought into communication, U-shaped guide members straddling and pivoted to the coupling members adjacent their butt ends for receiving the smaller ends of the opposite coupling members,those edges of the guide members remote from the butt ends of the corresponding coupling members having flared flanges for directing the opposite coupling members properly into the guide members, stops carried by the coupling members for properly limiting the movementof the guide members, and springs connecting said stops and the limbs of the guide members.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED H. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

C. A. HANCOCK, RALPH W. MCCONNELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the C'ommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

